By Al-Fassel | 2024-04-15

Iran launched a barrage of more than 100 medium-range ballistic missiles, more than 30 land-attack cruise missiles and more than 150 attack drones at Israel in an unprecedented April 13 attack.

Following the assault, which sparked global condemnation, senior US officials detailed the role Washington played, both militarily and diplomatically, in countering the attack, AFP reported.

US forces "successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said April 14.

Ahead of the attack, US officials including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were in "constant, ongoing, continuous contact" with the Israelis, as well as with other countries in the Middle East.

CENTCOM's Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla provided real-time updates from the region, as well as coordinating with Israel and other partners.

The United States was in touch with Iran as well, sending "a series of direct communications through the Swiss channel," the official said.

Washington had previously deployed additional military assets to the region "to bolster regional deterrence efforts and increase force protection for US forces," a US defense official said last week.

Global condemnation

US President Joe Biden convened fellow G7 leaders on April 14 to coordinate a diplomatic response against Tehran.

Leaders of the G7 -- the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada -- offered their full support for Israel, and said they were ready to "take further measures" in response to "further destabilizing initiatives."

In a statement, G7 leaders said they "unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran's direct and unprecedented attack against Israel."

"We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security," they said.

"With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided."

"We will continue to work to stabilize the situation and avoid further escalation."

"In this spirit, we demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc would "reflect on additional sanctions against Iran in close cooperation with our partners. Specifically on its drone and missile programs."

NATO on April 14 condemned Iran's attack on Israel as "escalation" of regional unrest and urged restraint on all sides, as did UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the leaders of a long list of countries in the region and world.

'Ironclad' support for Israel

Biden said he had called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reaffirm Washington's "ironclad" support for Israel.

"I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks -- sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel," he said.

He said he had ordered US military aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the Middle East in recent days, as the likely threat following a presumed Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate building in Damascus became clear.

"Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our service members, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles," Biden said.